The Bluffton University men s basketball team capped off a successful start to the 2020-21 season with a 3-0 mark. An Adrian College squad that won the MIAA conference tournament in 2019-20 was a handful, but the Beavers prevailed in a pair of nail-biters before pulling away 68-52 on Saturday, Dec. 12.
A slow start in the season opener back on November 20 saw the Beavers go seven scoreless minutes to start the game as Adrian built a 33-22 lead at the half. Playing without talented guards Dezman Brown (Elyria) and Jameel Cosby (Springfield/Kenton Ridge), Bluffton went to senior post Aaron Rich (Greenville) who got it done with 15 points and a career-high 15 rebounds.
By Nathan Zuercher, sports information assistant
The Beavers suffered their first loss of the season on the road at Transylvania University on a rainy Saturday, Dec. 12. The Beavers lost 83-61, shooting a mere 29.9 percent from the field, compared to Transylvania s red-hot 52.9 percent from the field.
The Bluffton shooting woes started in the first period and did not stop as the Beavers hit just 3-of-15 in the opening quarter while Transylvania was drilling 9-of-12 attempts. Junior Brianna Gillig (New Riegel) netted Bluffton s first points with a triple at the 8:12 mark. The visitors then watched helplessly as the Pioneers went on a 14-0 scoring run before senior Kylie Brock (Villa Hills, Ky./Dixie Heights) knocked down a jumper at the 2:59 mark to halt the spurt. The Beavers trailed 26-10 at the end of the first.